Premier Doug Ford says the two-year delay in opening the Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant in southwestern Ontario shouldn’t cause concern.
Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo Canada is attributing the delay at the $7 billion factory in St. Thomas, Ont., partly to a cooling in consumer appetite for electric vehicles.
A press release from PowerCo said the St. Thomas plant is expected to begin operations in 2029, with capacity for next-generation battery technology and future expansion “as market conditions evolve.” The release also announced PowerCo has hired EllisDon as the general contractor for the next phase of construction.
Ford said he’s confident that what is set to be Canada’s largest electric vehicle battery plant will be completed and operational within the timeline the company is now suggesting….